* Features
- Midem
- EuroSonic
* Business News
- Northern Kings set the rules
- Jori Hulkkonen mixes Robyns new single
- Digital-only single from Haltya
- Bass-baritone Janne Tulkki makes international debut at Midem 2008
- Girl Power Is in Fashion!
- Hanoi Rocks win first Radio Rock Finlandia Award
- Micragirlss album released in Japan, special widgets
- Accordionist Markku Lepistö‘s music in blockbuster movie
- Jazz guitarist Niklas Winter’s album licensed in Japan
- The 69 Eyes release their first live album
- Backstage Alliance to handle The Hellacopters next album and merchandise
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A Musical Explosion for 2008
100 years ago a massive explosion took place in Podkamennaya Tunguska, felling 80 million trees over an area of approximately 2150 square kilometers. The explosion was probably caused by a fragment of an asteroid, guaranteeing the event a long life as a source of pop culture paranoia. Remember the alien oil capable of possessing humans in X-Files? It’s often referred to as a Russian Roswell. Whatever caused it, asteroid, comet or a UFO with a faulty carburator and a broken tailpipe or a death ray gone astray, it was one hell of a bang.
Here at Music Export Finland, we’re starting this new year with a bang, too. We probably won’t topple any trees, but hopefully we’ll bowl over a lot of people. From MIDEM to EuroSonic and beyond, 2008 looks to be a stellar year for quality Finnish music reaching new audiences around the world and possessing them.
We’ll shoot for 80 million, but settle for less. 2008 is a great year for magnanimity.
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MIDEM @ CANNES, FRANCE
27-31 JANUARY
First we take Cannes…
Over 40 companies and associations are participating in the newly designed Music Export Finland stand. After a busy day chewing the fat and airing your gums at the fair, take a load off your sensible shoes and feast your ears on two talented acts spanning a couple of generations at Midem’s Talent Only festival one time offer, for a one-night stand!
Astrid Swan (JOHANNA KUSTANNUS)
Sunday, Jan 27 @ Orange Magic Mirrors at 12.00pm (noon) 
This girl has captivated every heart from José González and Mew to Jamie Cullum. Her last album Poverina was a beauty-contest winner, and the next Spartan Picnic release in February 2008 could be another icon. And thats what Astrid thinks too: Am I a conflicting figure, a radical annoyance with my own songs, but also with my masquerades and games of beauty? Am I to be seen with the Marilyns or with the Jonis? Why can I not be with the Bobs or the Antonies?
Listen: As Long As It’s Not You (Spartan Picnic 2008, JOHANNA KUSTANNUS)
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22-Pistepirkko (BONE VOYAGE RECORDINGS)
Sunday, Jan 27 @ Orange Magic Mirrors at 8.00pm
The legend is back with a vengeance! They’ve been around the world and in people’s heads for a long time, but that’s not enough. They’re bound to get bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger…. Their new album (Well You Know) Stuff Is Like We Yeah!! comes out in early 2008.
“22-Pistepirkko operates with the skewed perspective thats only gained at a vast distance from the beating heart of rock. What they play is a pop of a kind with no allegiance to any particular era, but of vaguely maverick bent.” (Stuart Maconie, Q MAGAZINE, UK)
Listen: Suburban Ladyland ( (Well You Know) Stuff Is Like We Yeah! 2008, BONE VOYAGE RECORDINGS)
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EUROSONIC @ GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS
10-12 JANUARY
...then we take Groningen!
EuroSonic gets the full Finnish treatment with four acts accurately showcasing the depth and breadth of talent in today’s Finnish music scene. From punky garage rock to progressive rock and battle metal to avant-electro with an enlarged pop heart, you can’t go wrong if you choose Finland at this year’s EuroSonic. This is Finland!
The live-sector focused music industry event presents this time effectively different kinds of musical aspects from Finland:
Stalingrad Cowgirls (WARNER MUSIC)
Thursday 10th @ Mutua Fides, at 22.15 
This girl band is a real sensation. With just a year of roadwork behind them, they’ve already played Popkomm, opened for million-seller Muse and slayed audiences in every corner of Finland.
Listen: You Won’t Get It (Somewhere High 2007, WARNER)
Von Hertzen Brothers (DYNASTY RECORDINGS)
Friday 11th @ Vera, at 20.45-03-Photo%20by%20Matti%20Pyykko_pieni.jpg)
Scions of the famously musical Von Hertzen clan, these three brothers can win over even the most sceptical rock cops in the audience with their swirling miasma of progressive rock and Indian atmospheres.
Listen: Kiss a Wish (Approach, 2006)
Turisas (CENTURY MEDIA)
Friday 11th @ Minerva main room, at 00.00
One of the most theatrical practitioners of popular music’s most theatrical genre. How can you go wrong? 2008 will henceforth be remembered as the year of Batlle Metal.
Varangian Way (2007, CENTURY MEDIA)
Op:l Bastards (LEFTA)
Friday 11th @ Simplon main room, at 01.30
They are a legend already. Electronic, artistic and experimental, this freewheeling trio has the Midas touch. A peerless live experience!
The Job (2007, LEFTA)
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Business News
Northern Kings Set the Rules
Having already achieved gold-record status in their native Finland, the cover-singing heavy-metal vocalists Northern Kings (WARNER) continue to amaze crowds all over the world. The all-star group is a collective of famous Finnish metal singers from Nightwish (Marco Hietala), Sonata Arctica (Tony Kakko), Charon (JP Leppäluoto) and Teräsbetoni (J. Ahola). A GSA release of their debut is scheduled for early February 2008, and releases in other territories are to be confirmed soon.
Jori Hulkkonen mixes Robyns new single
Swedish Robyn is to release her new single Be Mine! early this year. The B-side will include remixes by Jori Hulkkonen, Roger Sanchez, Dusty Kid and Klas Ahlund, as well as an acoustic version. The track gets its physical release on January 14, with the download available already.
Digital-only single from Haltya
Haltya (EXOGENIC) releases the first single Borboleta Purpura from the upcoming album Book Of Nature. It came out in early December as a digital release only and is now available from all respectable online stores.
Bass-baritone Janne Tulkki makes international debut at MIDEM 2008
Finnish tango singer/songwriter Janne Tulkki (LAULAJANNE) is to appear at Midem early next year. This will be the talented bass-baritones debut before international audiences. The new English language songs have been translated by Tracy Lipp, who managed to help Janne in between his busy schedule with the hugely successful rock band Lordi.
Girl Power Is in Fashion!
The all-girl punk/rock trio Stalingrad Cowgirls (WARNER) was without doubt one of the most interesting Finnish new-comers of 2007. In September, they played to a packed venue at Popkomm in Berlin, and a couple of weeks later supported Muse in Stockholm and Oslo. The debut album Somewhere High will be released throughout Scandinavia on January 29 by Warner Music Nordic, and next year’s confirmed live performances include showcases at the EuroSonic Festival and by:Larm. Dont miss your chance to check out how these chicks kick ass!
Hanoi Rocks win first Radio Rock Finlandia Award
The first Radio Rock Finlandia concert in Helsinki on December 5 turned out to be a great celebration, especially for Hanoi Rocks (BACKSTAGE ALLIANCE): they won the first Radio Rock Finlandia award in history. The voters were listeners to Radio Rock. The other nominees also appear on the list of Finlands most famous bands: HIM, Nightwish, Apocalyptica, Sonata Arctica and Amorphis. The Radio Rock Finlandia award is official recognition of a domestic group or artist who have been active and influential during their career.
Micragirlss album released in Japan, special wi
dgets
Micragirls (BONE VOYAGE) debut album Feeling Dizzy, Honey? has been on domestic release in Japan since early December. The band has teamed up with specialized label Peachy Doll Records and CR Japan distribution, who have a 12-year track record in punk rock. The Japanese version of the album comes with a video of Teenage Tiger and a rare cover by Nikki Corvette.
Accordionist Markku Lepistö‘s music in blockbuster movie
Accordionist Markku Lepistö (AITO RECORDS), best known for his work with Värttinä and his award-winning recording Polku released by Aito Records in 2006, has entered the realm of film music. Two tracks from Polku can be heard in the holiday-season blockbuster Joulutarina (A Christmas Story), directed by Juha Wuolijoki. The film was screened around Finland in December with breaking amount of 200 000 viewers.
Jazz guitarist Niklas Winter’s album licensed in Japan
Japanese King Records licensed Niklas Winters (ABOVOICE) new album Beautopia in late December. The jazz guitarist made a successful tour of Japan in early December, with eight concerts in seven cities. Winter has recently also signed a publishing deal with Japanese Seven Seas Music, and all this because he has been active on the Japanese market since 2004.
The 69 Eyes release their first live album
After two succesful American tours and sold out shows in Europe, The 69 Eyes (EMI) release their first live album Hollywood Kills - Live At The Whisky A Go Go on January 16. The band played 125 shows last year and recorded this sold out one at the legendary rock club Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood.
Backstage Alliance to handle The Hellacopters next album and merchandise
Backstage Alliance and The Hellacopters (SWE) have signed a licence deal for The Hellacopterss next album. Head Off will be released April 18, 2008. Beside Finland, the deal also covers Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Baltic countries. Backstage Alliance will also handle web and stock sales of The Hellacopters merchandise in these territories. Hellacopters fan products will soon be available from the Backstage Alliance’s BSA webstore.